Oklahoma football: 5 most underrated players in Oklahoma Sooners history
By John Buhler
Sterling Shepard. player. Scouting Report. (2012-15). 3. 815. Pick Analysis. WR
Sterling Shepard was a rock-solid receiver for Oklahoma football.
Sterling Shepard was born to play for the Oklahoma Sooners. His late father Derrick Shepard played wide receiver for them in the late 1980s and early 1990s. His uncles Darrell Shepard and Woodie Shepard played for the Sooners from the mid-1970s to the early 1980s at quarterback and running back, respectively. Shepard went on to have one hell of a career at OU in the 2010s.
As a freshman in 2012, Shepard had 45 catches for 621 yards and three trips to pay dirt. He had 51 catches for 603 yards and seven receiving touchdowns as a sophomore in 2013. Then as a junior, we really saw a tick up in his yards after catch, as he had 51 catches for 971 yards and five touchdowns. This all culminated in what was one fantastic senior season in 2015.
Shepard had 86 catches for 1,288 yards and 11 touchdowns, all career-highs at Oklahoma. The Sooners won the Big 12 that year, reaching the College Football Playoff for the first time in school history. Shepard ended up with 233 catches for 3,482 yards and 26 receiving touchdowns in 49 career college games with the Sooners.
The New York Giants would use the No. 40 overall pick in the second round of the 2016 NFL Draft on Shepard. He made the PFF All-Rookie Team in 2016 with 65 catches for 683 yards and eight touchdowns. Entering his fifth season with the Giants, Shepard has 247 catches for 2,862 yards and 17 touchdowns in 53 career NFL games. His best years still look to be ahead of him.